Psalm 104:26
New International Version
There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.

New Living Translation
See the ships sailing along, and Leviathan, which you made to play in the sea.

English Standard Version
There go the ships, and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

Berean Standard Bible
There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there.

King James Bible
There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

New King James Version
There the ships sail about; There is that Leviathan Which You have made to play there.

New American Standard Bible
The ships move along there, And Leviathan, which You have formed to have fun in it.

NASB 1995
There the ships move along, And Leviathan, which You have formed to sport in it.

NASB 1977
There the ships move along, And Leviathan, which Thou hast formed to sport in it.

Legacy Standard Bible
There the ships move along, And Leviathan, which You have formed to play in it.

Amplified Bible
There the ships [of the sea] sail, And Leviathan [the sea monster], which You have formed to play there.

Christian Standard Bible
There the ships move about, and Leviathan, which you formed to play there.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
There the ships move about, and Leviathan, which You formed to play there.

American Standard Version
There go the ships; There is leviathan, whom thou hast formed to play therein.

Contemporary English Version
And there are the ships, as well as Leviathan, the monster you created to splash in the sea.

English Revised Version
There go the ships; there is leviathan, whom thou hast formed to take his pastime therein.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Ships sail on it, and Leviathan, which you made, plays in it.

Good News Translation
The ships sail on it, and in it plays Leviathan, that sea monster which you made.

International Standard Version
There, the ships pass through; Leviathan, which you created, frolics in it.

Majority Standard Bible
There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there.

NET Bible
The ships travel there, and over here swims the whale you made to play in it.

New Heart English Bible
There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there.

Webster's Bible Translation
There go the ships: there is that leviathan, which thou hast made to play therein.

World English Bible
There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
There ships go—[and] leviathan, "" That You have formed to play in it.

Young's Literal Translation
There do ships go: leviathan, That Thou hast formed to play in it.

Smith's Literal Translation
There the ships will go: the sea monster thou didst form to play in it.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
There the ships shall go. This sea dragon which thou hast formed to play therein.

Catholic Public Domain Version
There, the ships will pass by this sea-serpent that you have formed to mock them.

New American Bible
There ships ply their course and Leviathan, whom you formed to play with.

New Revised Standard Version
There go the ships, and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
On it sail the ships; there is that Leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In it the ships travel; this is Leviathan which you have created to be merry in it.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
There go the ships; There is leviathan, whom Thou hast formed to sport therein.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
There go the ships; and this dragon whom thou hast made to play in it.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
How Many Are Your Works, O LORD!
25Here is the sea, vast and wide, teeming with creatures beyond number, living things both great and small. 26There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there. 27All creatures look to You to give them their food in due season.…

Cross References
Job 41:1-34
“Can you pull in Leviathan with a hook or tie down his tongue with a rope? / Can you put a cord through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? / Will he beg you for mercy or speak to you softly? ...

Isaiah 27:1
In that day the LORD will take His sharp, great, and mighty sword, and bring judgment on Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the coiling serpent—and He will slay the dragon of the sea.

Genesis 1:21
So God created the great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters teemed according to their kinds, and every winged bird after its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Ezekiel 32:2
“Son of man, take up a lament for Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: ‘You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas. You thrash about in your rivers, churning up the waters with your feet and muddying the streams.’

Jonah 1:17
Now the LORD had appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish.

Matthew 12:40
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Revelation 13:1
Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.

Job 3:8
May it be cursed by those who curse the day—those prepared to rouse Leviathan.

Isaiah 51:9
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD. Wake up as in days past, as in generations of old. Was it not You who cut Rahab to pieces, who pierced through the dragon?

Amos 9:3
Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.

1 Kings 4:33
He spoke of trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop growing in the wall, and he taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish.

Psalm 74:13-14
You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea; / You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.

Psalm 148:7
Praise the LORD from the earth, all great sea creatures and ocean depths,

Luke 11:30
For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.

Revelation 12:3
Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.


Treasury of Scripture

There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom you have made to play therein.

there go

Psalm 107:23
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

Genesis 49:13
Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.

leviathan

Psalm 74:14
Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

Job 3:8
Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.

Job 41:1
Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?

made.

Job 41:5,29
Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? …

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Beast Form Formed Fro Frolic Great Leviathan Move Play Ships Sport There Therein
Psalm 104
1. A meditation upon the mighty power
7. And wonderful providence of God
31. God's glory is eternal
33. The prophet vows perpetually to praise God














There the ships pass, and Leviathan, which You formed to frolic there
There
The word "there" indicates a specific location within the context of the psalm, which is a poetic celebration of God's creation. In Psalm 104, the psalmist is reflecting on the vastness and majesty of the sea. The Hebrew word used here is "שָׁם" (sham), which denotes a particular place. This highlights the intentionality of God's creation, where every element has its designated place and purpose.

the ships pass
This phrase refers to the human activity of navigation and commerce on the seas. The Hebrew word for "ships" is "אֳנִיּוֹת" (oniyyot), which were essential for trade and exploration in ancient times. The mention of ships underscores the interconnectedness of God's creation, where human ingenuity and divine providence meet. It reflects the idea that God not only created the natural world but also provided for human enterprise and sustenance.

and Leviathan
Leviathan is a creature mentioned several times in the Bible, often symbolizing chaos and power. The Hebrew word "לִוְיָתָן" (livyatan) is used here, which can refer to a large sea creature or a mythical sea monster. In the ancient Near Eastern context, Leviathan was often seen as a symbol of chaos that God subdued, demonstrating His sovereignty over all creation. In this psalm, Leviathan is portrayed not as a threat but as a part of God's good creation, highlighting God's control over even the most formidable forces.

which You formed
This phrase emphasizes God's role as the Creator. The Hebrew word "יָצַר" (yatsar) means to form or fashion, indicating intentionality and craftsmanship. It reflects the biblical theme that God is the ultimate artisan, who shapes and designs every aspect of the universe with purpose and care. This serves as a reminder of God's intimate involvement in creation, where nothing is accidental or without meaning.

to frolic there
The word "frolic" suggests playfulness and freedom. The Hebrew word "לְשַׂחֶק" (lesachek) conveys the idea of playing or sporting. This depiction of Leviathan as frolicking in the sea presents a picture of creation that is not only functional but also joyful and vibrant. It illustrates the abundance and delight inherent in God's creation, where even the most powerful creatures are part of a harmonious and joyful world. This serves as an inspiration for believers to find joy and wonder in the world God has made.

(26) Ships.--The poet writes like one who had been accustomed to see the navies of Ph?nicia, one of the indications which leads to the hypothesis that he belonged to the northern part of Palestine. And here for once we seem to catch a breath of enthusiasm for the sea--so rare a feeling in a Jew.

Leviathan.--See Psalm 74:14. In Job (Job 41) it is the crocodile, but here evidently an animal of the sea, and probably the whale. Several species of cetacea are still found in the Mediterranean, and that they were known to the Hebrews is clear from Lamentations 4:3. Various passages from classic authors support this view.

Whom Thou . . .--This clause is rendered by some "whom Thou hast made to play with him" (so LXX. and Vulg.), referring to Job 41:5. It is a rabbinical tradition that Leviathan is God's play thing.

Verse 26. - There go the ships. These may seem out of place among the works of God. But are they not his, in a certain sense? Did he not contemplate them when he made the sea, and make it to some extent for them? And did he not give men wisdom to invent and perfect them? There is that leviathan. "Leviathan" is here probably the whale, which may in early times have frequented the Mediterranean. Which thou hast made to play therein; or, to play with him. So the LXX. (ἐμπαίζειν αὐτῷ); and, among moderns, Ewald, Hitzig, Olshausen, Kay, Cheyne, and our Revisers (in the margin). The anthropomorphism is not beyond that of other passages.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
There
שָׁ֭ם (m)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

the ships
אֳנִיּ֣וֹת (’o·nî·yō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 591: A ship

pass,
יְהַלֵּכ֑וּן (yə·hal·lê·ḵūn)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

and Leviathan,
לִ֝וְיָתָ֗ן (liw·yā·ṯān)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3882: A wreathed animal, a serpent, dragon, Babylon

which
זֶֽה־ (zeh-)
Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

You formed
יָצַ֥רְתָּ (yā·ṣar·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3335: To mould into a, form, as a, potter, to determine

to frolic there.
לְשַֽׂחֶק־ (lə·śa·ḥeq-)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7832: To laugh, to play


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OT Poetry: Psalm 104:26 There the ships go and leviathan whom (Psalm Ps Psa.)
Psalm 104:25
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